Overview

Distribution

Range Description

This species is endemic to the Cape Verde Islands and is found only on a single submerged seamount, Banco João Valente, midway between the islands of Boa Vista and Maio (Monteiro et al. 2004). There is a recent record of an additional site somewhere offshore of Maio, but the locality is uncertain (M.J. Tenorio pers. comm. 2011). The type locality is a seamount that links the two islands, and this sampling point is where the water is very shallow (4 m), so the Area Of Occupancy is currently regarded as less than 10 km2.

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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

This species has been found at depths of between 23 and 38 m buried in sand among small rocks and pink coralline algae on a single submerged seamount which is subject to strong currents (Filmer 2002 amended 2009). Adults grow to approximately 44 mm.

IUCN Red List Assessment

This species is found on a single seamount, Banco João Valente, midway between the islands of Boavista and Maio in the Cape Verde archipelago. The habitat is only visited by lobster fishermen and it is too far from the mainland to be utilized for recreational diving. Although the species lives at SCUBA depths on a single seamount where it may be at high risk from over-gathering or fishing activities, at present the species is not considered to be threatened by these activities, however any changes in fishing activity would mean that the conservation status of this species should be reviewed.

The species is assessed as Near Threatened, as it is only present at a single locality (meeting CR B1a+2a) and would be regarded as potentially threatened, given the vulnerability of the habitat.

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Threats

This species is found on a single seamount, Banco João Valente, midway between the islands of Boavista and Maio in the Cape Verde archipelago. The habitat is only visited by lobster fisherman and it is too far from the mainland to be utilized for recreational diving.

The likelihood of impact from shell collectors is currently low, as the fishing activities are unlikely to obtain the species as bycatch.

The species would need to be collected by diving.

Future threats may be changes to the impact of fishing activities on the site.

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Management

Conservation Actions

This seamount has other species that are highly restricted in its range. The species may benefit from further research into abundance, level of off-take and threats. There are no known conservation measures for the sea-mount currently in place for this species.

The likelihood of impact from shell collectors is currently low, as the fishing activities are unlikely to obtain the species as bycatch.